Dallas Cowboys Blog

Late Wednesday night, Terrell Owens made the announcement via his Twitter page that he would be joining the Allen Wranglers of the Indoor Football League.

Owens, the former Cowboys receiver, will be a player for the Wranglers and the co-owner of the team along with Jon Frankel.

Frankel said Thursday morning that the deal was finalized late Wednesday night.

“It’s official. I’m extremely excited,” Frankel said. “I’ve been telling people it’s like I’ve been watching a movie and I’m dying to know what happens next. Terrell helps the best fan experience tremendously and helps put us on the map tremendously. It’s a historic event. There’s never been a first-ballot [Pro Football] Hall-of-Famer in an indoor game.”

Frankel said he couldn’t disclose the terms of the deal, but the team announced last year on its website that it had offered Owens a compensation package up to $500,000. Typically, Indoor Football League players receive free housing, free food and a flat rate of $225 per game (that rises to $250 per game for victories).

The Wranglers’ 14-game season begins with a home game Feb. 25. Owens will make his debut then. Frankel said that Owens will play in all seven home games.

“We haven’t determined if he’s playing road games yet,” Frankel said. “That will be up to him, but obviously home games. He’s excited. I’m excited for him to see him back on the field. It’s a long time coming.”

Frankel told The Dallas Morning News in late December that he was closing in on a deal to land Owens.

Before Owens agreed to sign off on the terms, he made a day trip to Allen last week and toured the team’s arena and facilities at the Allen Events Center and sat down with Frankel and Wranglers general manager Drew Pearson.

“It went well,” Frankel said of the meeting and Owens touring the facility.

Over the last few months, Frankel has been in discussions with Owens and his agent, Jason Rosenhaus, to get the deal finalized.

“It was a process. This is a big decision,” Frankel said. “For a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer to make a decision like this, it was a process. He said when he committed he wanted to be 100 percent committed. As you can tell by his reaction, he’s excited.”

Frankel said having Pearson, the former Cowboys standout wide receiver who was recently inducted into the team’s hallowed Ring of Honor, involved in the process helped to get the deal done.

“It absolutely helped,” Frankel said. “When you have a guy who should be in the Hall of Fame like Drew Pearson, it was critical in the process.”

Frankel said the Wranglers will hold an introduction press conference with Owens over the next 10 days. Frankel said the press conference will be at the Allen Events Center and open to the public. He said the team would hold drawings at the press conference for fans to win a chance to meet and greet Owens before the home opener Feb. 25.

Frankel said ticket sales are going well but he expects them to pick up a lot now that Owens is signed. The Allen Events Center seats about 6,200. Season ticket plans start as low as $136 and can be purchased by calling 972-912-3131.

“Everybody is excited about this,” Frankel said. “What is not to be excited about? I truly don’t know a better person who is not signed in the NFL that could add to our fan experience better than Terrell Owens.”